Ademola Lookman is set to bid farewell to Atalanta at the end of the season, bringing an end to a dramatic chapter in Bergamo that featured a historic Europa League triumph—and an equally painful fallout.
The Nigeria international, who has scored 18 goals and provided seven assists in all competitions this season, has reportedly made a final decision to leave the club. His departure, long in the making, comes at a crucial point for Atalanta, who have suffered three consecutive defeats in the league, all but ending their Scudetto hopes and leaving their Champions League ambitions hanging in the balance.
According to Calcio Mercato, Lookman, the hero of last season’s Europa League final, had already expressed a desire to leave last summer. However, Atalanta’s hierarchy convinced him to stay, especially after the departure of another key player, Teun Koopmeiners, was already on the cards.
But the real turning point came on February 18 during Atalanta’s shock Champions League exit at the hands of Club Brugge. Lookman missed a crucial second-half penalty that could have changed the tide of the match, prompting an explosive reaction from head coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
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“Lookman shouldn’t have taken the penalty,” Gasperini said in a fiery post-match press conference. “He’s one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen.”
The harsh words reportedly didn’t sit well with the Nigerian forward, who responded on social media and made up his mind to leave the club once the season wraps.
Juventus are leading the race for his signature, with their sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli holding talks with Atalanta’s Tony D’Amico as far back as January. The two directors even had dinner together to discuss the player, and contact has intensified in recent weeks.
Napoli are also in the mix, preparing to make a significant investment in their squad this summer. With a reported transfer budget between €160m and €180m, the Partenopei could pose a serious challenge to Juve, while top Premier League clubs are also monitoring Lookman’s situation.
Atalanta, however, are not ready to offer discounts. The club is said to value Lookman at over €60 million—a hefty fee, but one that reflects the 26-year-old’s impact and consistency since arriving in Italy.
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